The NDAA and the Death of the Democratic State by Chris Hedges

On Wednesday a few hundred activists crowded into the courtroom of the Second Circuit, the spillover room with its faulty audio feed and dearth of chairs, and Foley Square outside the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse in Manhattan where many huddled in the cold. The fate of the nation, we understood, could be decided by the three judges who will rule on our lawsuit against President Barack Obama for signing into law Section 1021(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The section permits the military to detain anyone, including U.S. citizens, who “substantially support”—an undefined legal term—al-Qaida, the Taliban or “associated forces,” again a term that is legally undefined. Those detained can be imprisoned indefinitely by the military and denied due process until “the end of hostilities.” In an age of permanent war this is probably a lifetime. Anyone detained under the NDAA can be sent, according to Section (c)(4), to any “foreign country or entity.” This is, in essence, extraordinary rendition of U.S. citizens. It empowers the government to ship detainees to the jails of some of the most repressive regimes on earth.

We Are Change CT was able to talk to Journalist & Activist Alexa O’Brien one of the 7 NDAA Plaintiffs on the NDAA court ruling, the War on Whistleblowers, the NDAA in relation to the Bradley Manning Case & more.

“The section permits the military to detain anyone, including U.S. citizens, who “substantially support”—an undefined legal term—al-Qaida, the Taliban or “associated forces,” again a term that is legally undefined.”

Just those few words ~ “support” plus “al-Qaida” plus “associated forces” ~ are therefore more than sufficient for the US administration to “detain” itself! Since when did they ever stop supporting “associated forces of al-Qaida?” From Afghanistan to Libya, to Syria and now out of Algeria and beyond. The absurdity of this legal charade beggars belief.

The facts in Syria alone provide not just sufficient, but unequivocal evidence of their very generous, continued and indeed unstinting support …so Mr Pres.Obama will have to arrest himself in the event this passes into “law.” Some law. Outlaw more like.

The Golden Rule

“That which is hateful to you do not do to another ... the rest (of the Torah) is all commentary, now go study.” - Rabbi Hillel

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

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